Raspberry plant named &#39;Drisraspeight&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named ‘DrisRaspEight’ particularly distinguished by having a self-fruitful plant that bears medium-sized, glossy berries, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rubus idaeus L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DrisRaspEight’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct raspberry varietydesignated ‘DrisRaspEight’ and botanically known as Rubus idaeus L. Thisnew raspberry variety was discovered in Ventura County, Calif. inOctober 2008 and originated from a cross between the proprietary femaleparent raspberry plant ‘Driscoll Estrella’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,137)and the proprietary male parent raspberry plant ‘DrisRaspFour’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 22,731). The original seedling of the new variety wasfirst asexually propagated at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in2008. ‘DrisRaspEight’ was subsequently asexually propagated andunderwent further testing at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. forseven years. The present invention has been found to be stable andreproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations viatissue culture and root cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘DrisRaspEight’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere inthe world more than one year prior to the filing date of thisapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Santa Cruz County, Calif:

1. Self-fruitful plant; and

2. Medium-sized, glossy berries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new raspberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show cane, leaves, flowers and fruit of the new plant. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are elevenmonths old.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a young cane with prickles.

FIG. 2 shows both the upper surface and the lower surface of the plantleaves.

FIG. 3 shows close-up views of typical flowers at various stages ofdevelopment.

FIG. 4 shows close-up views of typical fruit at various stages ofdevelopment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘DrisRaspEight’. The data which define thesecharacteristics is based on observations taken in Santa Cruz County,Calif. from 2008 to 2014. This description is in accordance with UPOVterminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisRaspEight’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The botanical descriptionof ‘DrisRaspEight’ was taken from eleven-month-old plants. Colorreferences are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition). Descriptiveterminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An IllustratedGlossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris,unless where otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus idaeus L.        -   Common name.—Raspberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisRaspEight’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary raspberry plant ‘Driscoll            Estrella’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,137).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary raspberry plant ‘DrisRaspFour’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,731).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Tissue culture and root cuttings.        -   Size.—Large.        -   Height.—193.0 cm.        -   Width.—176.8 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.1.        -   Productivity.—High.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.        -   New cane growth habit.—Semi-erect.-   Primocanes:    -   -   Number of canes.—Medium.        -   Glaucosity (waxy bloom) on full grown shoot after            picking.—Medium.        -   Cane length in autumn.—Medium.        -   Cane length for current season's cane in autumn.—146.0 cm.        -   Length of internode.—Medium.        -   Internodal distance at central ⅓ of cane.—6.65 cm.        -   Length of vegetative bud.—Very short.        -   Number of young shoots.—Many.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of apex during rapid growth.—Absent.        -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration of apex during rapid            growth.—Absent.        -   Time of cane ermergence.—Early.        -   Time of beginning of flowers.—Early.        -   Time of beginning of fruit ripening in autumn.—Early.        -   Length of fruiting period in autumn.—Medium.        -   Percent of cane flowering as primocane.—40%.        -   Percent primocane yield of total yield.—50%.        -   Glaucosity (waxy bloom) on current years cane in            autumn.—Strong.        -   Cane strength.—Strong.        -   Shape of cane cross section.—Rounded.        -   Pubescence on canes.—Absent.-   Floricanes:    -   -   Dormant cane length in summer.—Medium.        -   Dormant cane color in summer.—RHS 168C (Medium            greyed-orange).        -   Fruiting lateral attitude.—Semi-erect.        -   Fruiting lateral length.—Medium.        -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Early.        -   Time of beginning of flowers.—Early.        -   Time of beginning of fruit ripening.—Medium.        -   Length of fruiting period.—Medium.-   Prickles (spines):    -   -   Density of spines on central third.—Medium.        -   Size of base of prickles.—Small.        -   Length (from base to tip).—Short.        -   Length at 1.0 m height at end of harvest season (from base            to tip).—1.42 mm.        -   Color (pigmentation).—RHS 183C (Dark greyed-purple).        -   Attitude of tip.—Horizontal.        -   Size.—Small.        -   Texture.—Rigid.        -   Presence and distribution on petioles.—Present and regularly            distributed.-   Leaves:    -   -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: Medium; 11.97 cm Width: Medium;            8.95 cm Length/width ratio: 1.3 Leaf color: Upper surface:            RHS 137A (Dark green) Lower surface: RHS 191A (Medium            greyed-green) Profile in cross section: Concave Relief            between the veins: Strong Overlapping of leaflets: Free            Glossiness: Dull Shape: Ovate Apex: Acuminate Base: Obtuse            Margin: Crenate Arrangement: Simple.        -   Lateral leaflets (basal pair).—Number of leaflets: Always 3            Size: Length: 10.28 cm Width: 6.67 cm Length/width ratio:            1.5 Arrangement: Compound-opposite (2 leaves per node)            Shape: Ovate Apex: Acuminate Base: Obtuse Margin: Doubly            serrate Lateral leaflet (length to stalklet, lower pair):            Medium.        -   Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets.—30.8 mm.        -   Petiole.—Size: Length: 4.0 mm Diameter: 1.97 mm            Pigmentation: Upper surface: RHS 143C (Medium green) Lower            surface: RHS 143C (Medium green).-   Stipules:    -   -   Orientation.—Erect.-   Flowers:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Diameter.—21.84 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 157B (Light green-white).        -   Petal length.—8.8 mm.        -   Petal width.—4.23 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—2.1.        -   Flowering period.—Primocane: Early; Early June to            mid-September Floricane: Medium; Late March to late June.        -   Pedicel.—Number of spines: Few Anthocyanin coloration:            Absent Length: Medium; 30.92 mm Diameter: 1.10 mm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Presence of anthocyanin coloration.—Absent.        -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration.—Absent or very weak.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length.—Medium; 23.61 mm.        -   Width.—Medium; 20.38 mm.        -   Ratio of length to width.—1.2, as long as broad.        -   Average number of drupelets per fruit.—75.        -   Weight (g/fruit).—Primocane: 4.9 Floricane: 6.0.        -   Soluble solids (% in Brix).—10.8.        -   Weight of seeds (g/seed).—0.002347.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Shape.—Ovate (Broad conical).        -   Size of single drupelet.—Medium.        -   Color.—Immature fruit: RHS 138C (Light green) Maturing            fruit: RHS 32A (Dark orange-red) Mature fruit color: RHS            185A (Dark greyed-purple).        -   Glossiness.—Strong.        -   Firmness.—Medium.        -   Adherence to plug.—Easy.        -   Main bearing type.—Both on previous year's cane in summer            and on current year's cane in autumn.        -   Time of ripening.—Primocane: Medium Floricane: Medium.        -   Harvest season.—Primocane: Mid-July to late July Floricane:            Mid-July to late July.        -   Yield.—High.-   Pest and disease resistance: Not tested

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘DrisRaspEight’ differs from the proprietary female parent ‘DriscollEstrella’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,137) in that ‘DrisRaspEight’ is morevigorous and has larger fruit of better quality than ‘DriscollEstrella’.

‘DrisRaspEight’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘DrisRaspFour’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,731) in that ‘DrisRaspEight’ has better qualityand brighter colored fruit with a higher yield than ‘DrisRaspFour’.

‘DrisRaspEight’ differs from commercial variety ‘Driscoll Maravilla’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,804) in that ‘DrisRaspEight’ has stronglyglossy, medium firm fruit having an easy adherence to the plug, whereas‘Driscoll Maravilla’ has medium glossy, firm fruit having a mediumadherence to the plug.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named‘DrisRaspEight’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.